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Spirit of God, Descend upon My Heart
Attributed to George Croly, 1866
Frederick C. Atkinson, 1870

Spirit of God, descend upon my heart;
Wean it from earth, through all its pulses move.
Stoop to my weakness, mighty as Thou art,
and make me love Thee as I ought to love.

I ask no dream, no prophet ecstasies,
No sudden rending of the veil of clay,
No angel visitant, no op'ning skies,
but take the dimness of my soul away.

Teach me to feel that Thou art always night;
Teach me the struggles of the soul to bear,
to check the rising doubt, the rebel sigh.
Teach me the patience of unanswered prayer.

Teach me to love Thee as Thine angels love:
one holy passion filling all my frame,
the baptism of the heav'n descended Dove,
My heart an altar and Thy love the flame.